North Bulgaria is a region with fascinating folklore obtained by the interaction of the traditions of several groups: local population, Balkan people and immigrants from Eastern Thrace. Even during the Turkish domination in Bulgaria the Danube river served as a natural link with Central and Eastern Europe. That is why, along with the old-time songs and tunes, one can also hear others, in which the European influence is felt. These peculiarities of the North-Bulgarian folk-musical idiom are conspicuously present in the recordings of the HORO Orchestra from the town of Rousse. Vassil Purvanov, its conductor, is from Lom, a small Danubean town in Northwest Bulgaria. This explains the presence of some Northern motifs in the horo tunes. Irrespective of his classical music education (he graduated from the State Academy of Music in Sofia majoring in clarinet), he has always performed folk music only. This was how he established the best folk orchestra in North Bulgaria, which has preserved its original style throughout the long years of creative existence without yielding to modern influences.
HORO ORCHESTRA - ROUSSE
[1] Danubian Daichovo Horo 3'29''
[2] Loveshko Horo 3'02''
[3] Traikovska Ruchenitsa 3'16''
[4] Tinka Has Entered the Garden (Vlyazla e Tinka v gradinka) 2'10''
[5] Kolyo Has Fallen in Love (Zalyubil Kolyo) 2'18''
[6] Koichovata 3'06''
[7] The Long One (Dulgata) 4'28''
[8] Pravo Severnyashko Horo 2'54''
[9] Todor Has Fallen in Love (Zalyubil Todor) 2'29''
[10] Hey, Elena Maiden (Mome, Eleno, Eleno) 2'52''
[11] Velikovo Horo 2'57''
[12] Petrovsko Elenino 3'52''
[13] Radka Was Bleaching a Cloth (Radka si platno beleshe) 2'19''
[14] I've Fallen in Love with Two Maidens (Zalyubih si dve momi) 3'09''
[15] Lyubomirovo Horo 2'54''
[16] A Kaval Is Playing (Kaval sviri) 2'32''
[17] Two Young Ones Have Fallen in Love (Zalyubili se dvama mladi) 2'04''
[18] Maidens' Ruchenitsa (Mominska ruchenitsa) 2'20''
[19] Katselovska Ruchenitsa 4'10''
[20] A Slow Idyl (Bavna idiliya), Berkovsko Horo 3'53''
Total: 60'14''
The HORO Orchestra includes:
Vassil Purvanov (clarinet, saxophone, wooden pipe, occarina), Ivailo Petrov (accordion), Nikolai Deskov (accordion), Lyubomir Hristov (accordion), Dimiter Hodjev (guitar), Yavor Minchev (guitar, tambura), Dimiter Petrov (double-bass), Dimiter Tsaparkov (keyboards), Peter Avramov (big drum)
Soloists: Elka Boneva, Nedelcho Vulev, Georgi Androv, Mariana Androva
Arrangement: Vassil Purvanov, Dimiter Tsaparkov
